Expression and purification of isotopically labeled peptide inhibitors and substrates of cAMP-dependant protein kinase A for NMR analysis

Protein Expr Purif. 2009 Apr;64(2):231-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2008.10.016. Epub 2008 Nov 6.

Abstract

Extensive X-ray crystallographic studies carried out on the catalytic-subunit of protein kinase A (PKA-C) enabled the atomic characterization of inhibitor and/or substrate peptide analogues trapped at its active site. Yet, the structural and dynamic transitions of these peptides from the free to the bound state are missing. These conformational transitions are central to understanding molecular recognition and the enzymatic cycle. NMR spectroscopy allows one to study these phenomena under functionally relevant conditions. However, the amounts of isotopically labeled peptides required for this technique present prohibitive costs for solid-phase peptide synthesis. To enable NMR studies, we have optimized both expression and purification of isotopically enriched substrate/inhibitor peptides using a recombinant fusion protein system. Three of these peptides correspond to the cytoplasmic regions of the wild-type and lethal mutants of the membrane protein phospholamban, while the fourth peptide correspond to the binding epitope of the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor (PKI(5-24)). The target peptides were fused to the maltose binding protein (MBP), which is further purified using a His(6) tag approach. This convenient protocol allows for the purification of milligram amounts of peptides necessary for NMR analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Isotope Labeling
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Maltose-Binding Proteins
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / isolation & purification
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Maltose-Binding Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • protein kinase inhibitor peptide (5-24)
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases